Tube-cleaner.



No. 807,918. PATENTED DEC. 19, 1905.

- F. M. FABER.

TUBE CLEANER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 20. 1903.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK M. FABER, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WILLIAM S.ELLIOTT, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

TUBE-CLEANER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 19, 1905.

Original application filed March 10, 1903 Serial No. 14:7,068. Dividedand this application filed July 20, 1903. Serial No. 166 ,235.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK M. FABER, of Pittsburg, Allegheny county,Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Tube-Gleaner, of which thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, inwhich Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved cleaner-head, and Fig.2 is a cross-section on the line II II of Fig. 1.

My invention relates to the class of tubecleaners of the Elliott type,wherein a fluidactuated turbine is connected to a head or stem havingfreely-swinging longitudinal arms with transverse cutters mountedthereon; and the object of the invention is to provide wings and stopsfor the swinging arms which shall prevent excessive wear and improperpositioning of these arms in the tubes.

This application is a division of my former application, Serial No.147,068, filed March 10, 1903.

In the drawings, 2 and 3 represent the freelyswinging arms, of which Ihave shown four, arranged in opposite pairs, the arms 2 being longerthan the other pair and all of them being pivotally connected to arotatory block 4:, having a universal-joint connection 5 with the stemof a turbine. under the action of centrifugal force, and the universaljoint may or may not be used, though I prefer to employ it.

The arms 2 are provided with inwardly-projecting stops 6 and below themwith oppositelyprojecting lateral guide-wings 7 7. The arms 3 areprovided with upper-oppositely-projecting lateral wings 8 8, whichengage the side faces of the stops 6, and below the same withinwardly-projecting stops 9, which in turn are engaged by the side wings7 of the arms 2. Each arm is therefore provided with a projection whichengages with wings on the adjacent arms and also with wings which engagea project-ion on the adjacent arms.

When the device is inserted in the tubes, the arms are restricted intheir outer movement by the walls of the tube, so that the ends of theradial inner projections do not move outwardly beyond the edges of thewings, while the inward motion of each arm is limited by the engagementof its wings with the projections on The arms are free to swing theadjacent arms, so that the opposite cutters can never contact with eachother nor with the arms carrying other cutters. Eflicient action is thusafforded and the arms and cutters are prevented from injuring eachother.

The arms are provided with the transverse toothed cutters 10, as in theElliott type, and these wheels may either be conical, as shown, orcylindrical.

The advantages of my invention result from the peculiar arrangement ofthe stops and guides, which hold the arms in proper position, limit theinward swing, and prevent their injuring each other.

Many variations may be made in the form and arrangement of the cleaner,the arms, stops, &c., without departing from my invention.

I claim 1. A tube-cleaner having swinging arms each provided with asquare-sided stop arranged to contact with the inner side of an adjacentarm to positively limit the inward movement of said arms; substantiallyas described.

2. A tube-cleaner having swinging arms, at least one arm having aninwardly-projecting guide, the adjacent arm having a side wing arrangedto engage the side face of said projection; substantially as described.

3. A tube-cleaner having swinging arms, each arm having an inwardlyprojecting guide, and a side wing, the side wing of each arm beingarranged to engage the side face of the inwardly-projecting guide of theadjacent arm; substantially as described.

4. A tube-cleaner having swinging arms arranged in pairs, each pairhaving inwardlyprojecting lugs at one level and side wings at anotherlevel, the wings of one pair engaging the side faces of the lugs on theother pair; substantially as described.

5. A tube-cleaner having swinging arms, cutters at the free ends of saidarms and coacting stops and wings on said arms to prevent contact of thecutters with each other or with adjacent arms; substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

FRANK M. FABER.

Witnesses:

JOHN MILLER, H. M. CoRwIN.

